A-Mei Tea House (Jiufen Old Street) Jiufen’s most infamous teahouse: Article From Travel.TaiwanMe.com

A-Mei Tea House is a popular teahouse located in the heart of Jiufen Old Street market. The teahouse gets its name from it’s original owner and operator, A Mei. Its beautiful architectural exterior has made Amei Tea House Jiufen’s most recognisable landmark and is often used as a backdrop for Instagram photos and on Taiwanese travel brochures.

A-Mei Tea House has a long and interesting history, originally being built as a blacksmith by Amei’s grandfather in the early 20th century. During this period Jiufen was undergoing considerable economic growth due to a gold mining rush in the area with blacksmith serving as an important shop and repairer for tools used in the surrounding gold mines. After the height of the gold rush Jiufen turned from a gold mining town into a market, during which time Amei transformed the spacious shop into the beautiful teahouse is resembles today.

AmeiTeaHouse

Architectural Design

The building spans several levels with the infamous building facade being wrapped in wooden walls decorated with lush greenery and traditional ornaments. The interior is broken into east and west wings. The east wing being used exclusively for tea tasting while the west wing is used for dining and includes a gift shop. Due to rotting brought on by rainy humid weather, A-Mei Tea House is often refurbished however has always maintained its traditional architectural style.

Surrounding Historical Architecture

Located in the middle of Jiufen Old Street, A-Mei Tea House is surrounded by beautiful architecture and quaint teahouses that are spread throughout the market. This unique characteristic of Jiufen Old Street has helped turn it into the popular tourist hotspot it is today. Many visitors often dine at a teahouse to relax after a long day of walking and shopping, as well as to capture the amazing views from Keelung Mountain.

Spirited Away

Although previously denied, it is often purported that the A-Mei Tea House and Jiufen Old Streets served as inspiration for the town featured in cult-phenomenon Spirited Away. In a 2013 interview, director Hayao Miyazaki publicly refuted any relationship between Jiufen and his 2001 Japanese animated fantasy. Whether or not Jiufen Old Street or A-Mei Tea House did in fact serve as inspiration for the film, there is no denying their striking resemblance.

Tea Tasting & Specialty Snacks

Am-Mei Tea House offers a variety of hot & cold teas, desserts, specialty snack options as well as interactive demonstrations. Many of the ingredients are made in-house including the floral and fruity aroma osmanthus tea wine, brewed from organic ingredients.

Views over Taiwan’s North Shore

One of A-Mei’s most appealing aspects are the stunning views offered over Taiwan’s coastline. Being perched on the side of Keelung Mountain, A-Mei Tea House offers a unique spot to enjoy the views from almost every table. Sit inside to enjoy the cooling air conditioning or relax outside to witness the amazing views of the northern Taiwan coastline.